Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Cultural Facilities in Nanjing: A POI-Based Analysis

Cultural facility distribution provides a spatial basis for examining inclusive urban service provision. Using point-of-interest (POI) data for 2005, 2015, and 2025, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of cultural facilities across Nanjing. Kernel density estimation, standard deviational ellipses, spatial autocorrelation, and hotspot analyses describe the three-period patterns. GeoDetector and geographically weighted regression (GWR) examine associations with economic, demographic, and transport conditions in 2025. Central concentration persisted across the three periods, while peripheral nodes became more evident in 2015 and 2025. The distributional centroid shifted northwestward and then southeastward, yielding a small net displacement, while the ellipse orientation remained broadly stable. Spatial clustering strengthened between 2005 and 2015 and moderated thereafter. GDP and population raster means and distances to roads and metro lines showed different explanatory power, with bi-factor enhancement across the factor combinations. The findings connect a three-period account of facility configuration with spatially varying associations in the latest year. They provide a basis for subsequent supply–demand and equity assessments supporting inclusive urban planning under Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11).